When it comes to valuing a car, you need to know more than just its age and mileage. You’ll want to know a bunch more about it – and about its history:
Has it ever been in an accident? It if was, how severe was the damage?
Did its owner frequently skip oil changes or other scheduled maintenance?
Is it a 1-owner car or has it had multiple owners?
Did the owner have it for personal use or was it a fleet vehicle, such as a rental car?
Every car’s history has a big impact on how much you’ll be willing to pay.
In fact, two similar cars – driven off dealer lots on the same day – will have very different values years later. That’s because open safety recalls, accidents, and damage are just as important to a car’s value as its mileage or model year. So is documented maintenance.
And good maintenance isn’t just important to car buyers. If you’re selling your car – or plan to one day – keeping a car well-maintained is key to getting the most money for it. Carfax Car Care helps you keep track of car maintenance so you never miss a tire rotation or oil change. And it’s completely free.
Below, we’ve detailed how each of these factors can weigh heavily on a car’s value. Be sure to keep them in mind when you’re shopping for your next used car.
Click here for a larger view.
Carfax’s History-Based Value tool can help you discover a used vehicle’s worth using VIN-specific data about the car.
